Swallow Cygnet: The Complete Buyer’s Guide
Choosing Your Size
Swallow Cygnet 6x11 Greenhouse: Provides 75 sq. ft. of space, perfect for smaller gardens or new growers.
Swallow Cygnet 6x15 Greenhouse: Offers 100 sq. ft., ideal for accommodating more ambitious planting schemes.
Swallow Cygnet 6x19 Greenhouse: Delivers 127 sq. ft. of professional-level capacity for serious, year-round cultivation.
All models feature the same 6ft 8in width and signature 2ft 5in T-shaped porch, which provides valuable transitional space for hardening off plants or storing tools.
What’s Included With Every Cygnet?
Free Installation: A professional 2-person team will assemble your greenhouse in 6–8 hours.
ThermoWood® Frame: A chemical-free, heat-treated timber that prevents warping and rot. The process reduces moisture absorption by 40–50% and maintains dimensional stability within 3%, preventing stuck doors and misaligned panels common in traditionally treated greenhouses.
3mm Toughened Safety Glass: 5× stronger than standard horticultural glass, meeting current building regulations.
Automatic Roof Vents: Four Bayliss XL auto-vents open and close automatically to regulate temperature, opening progressively as internal heat rises above 17°C.
Full Staging System: A 520mm wide L-shaped bench spans both side walls and extends into the porch at 745mm high, maximising bench space while preserving floor area.
Security: A mortice-locked single door with a stainless steel handle that resists corrosion.
Full Guttering System: Integral guttering channels rainwater for sustainable collection — useful for summer watering.
PVC Damp Barrier: A 20mm barrier prevents ground moisture from wicking into the frame — a detail often omitted in budget greenhouses.
Understanding ThermoWood Construction
ThermoWood® transforms sustainably sourced Scandinavian timber through controlled high-temperature treatment reaching 180–215°C. This process removes resins and sugars that attract insects, reduces moisture absorption by 40–50%, and stabilises cellular structure to prevent warping.
Standard softwood timber can swell and shrink up to 8% seasonally. ThermoWood maintains dimensional stability within 3%. The heat treatment darkens timber to a rich brown colour that weathers to silver-grey over 3–5 years — or maintains its original tone under the oiled finish applied to all Swallow Cygnet models.
Customisation & Model Comparisons
- Dwarf Wall Construction: Replaces the lower glazed panels with a 460mm timber “wall,” reducing glass area by 25% for better heat retention — perfect for sitting on a pre-built brick plinth.
- Painted Finishes: Available in 10 Farrow & Ball colours, though the standard oiled ThermoWood requires no treatment for 12 years.
Model Comparisons:
Cygnet vs. Mallard: The Swallow Mallard 8ft Wide Wooden Greenhouse is an 8ft wide, straight-sided design offering 20% more floor space without the T-shaped porch.
Cygnet vs. Swan: The Swallow Swan 8ft Wide with Double Door Wooden Greenhouse is also 8ft wide but features double doors for wheelbarrow access.
Cygnet vs. Eagle: The Swallow Eagle Victorian Wooden Greenhouse offers full Victorian styling with ornate finials and decorative ridge cresting.
Preparing Your Base
Learn: How to build a concrete base for a wooden greenhouse
Learn: How to build a paving slab base for a wooden greenhouse
Once your greenhouse is installed, start growing with our beginner’s guide: What to Grow in a Greenhouse for Beginners.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How much does a Swallow Cygnet Greenhouse cost?
Swallow Cygnet Greenhouse pricing starts from approximately £3,500 for the 6x11 model with standard specifications, increasing to around £5,000+ for the 6x19 with painted finish and optional extras. All prices include free UK mainland delivery and professional installation. You can customise glazing options, finishes, and staging to suit your budget and requirements.
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What makes the Swallow Cygnet T-shape unique?
The T-shaped design places the entrance porch perpendicular to the main growing area rather than inline. This creates 2ft 5in of additional covered space without extending overall length, perfect for tool storage or transitioning seedlings. The configuration also provides architectural interest, making the Swallow Cygnet a garden feature rather than a purely functional structure.
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Does ThermoWood require treatment or maintenance?
ThermoWood arrives pre-oiled and requires no treatment for the first 2–3 years. Apply Danish oil or similar wood treatment every 2–3 years to maintain the rich brown colour, or allow natural weathering to silver-grey. The 12-year warranty covers structural integrity regardless of cosmetic maintenance. Painted finishes need re-coating every 5–7 years depending on exposure.
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How long does Swallow Cygnet installation take?
Professional installation of Swallow Cygnet Greenhouses takes 6–8 hours for standard models, completed in a single day by experienced two-person teams. You’ll receive 2–3 weeks’ notice of your installation date after confirming your base is ready. The service includes full assembly, glazing, and sealing, with all packaging removed from site.
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Can I build my own base for a Swallow Cygnet?
Yes, the Swallow Cygnet requires a perimeter base of 50mm thick paving slabs matching the greenhouse footprint dimensions. The base must be level to within 5mm and positioned to allow 2ft access on all sides for installation. Follow our detailed base-building guides or request professional base preparation at extra cost.
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What’s the difference between Cygnet and Swan models?
The Swallow Swan provides 8ft width versus the Cygnet’s 6ft 8in, offering roughly 20% more floor space. The Swan uses straight-sided construction without the T-shaped porch, and features double doors for equipment access. Both share ThermoWood construction, toughened glass, and 12-year warranties with free installation.